ARCHIVED - Summary of Consultation to amend the Food and Drug Regulations to permit the use of a preparation of Carnobacterium maltaromaticum strain CB1 in certain ready-to-eat meat and poultry products

Health Canada's Food Directorate recently completed a consultation on its proposal to amend the Food and Drug regulations to permit the use of the food additive Carnobacterium maltaromaticum CB1 in certain processed meat and poultry meat products. This consultation was open to both domestic and international stakeholders for a 30 day period between October 12, 2010 and November 10, 2010.

There were no comments received on this proposal; however, one request was received to extend the time to provide comments on the proposal. Health Canada responded to this request indicating the importance of proceeding with this proposal without further delay because of the contribution of this food additive in the control of Listeria monocytogenes. In addition, the Canadian Meat Council and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) were consulted during the development of this regulatory project and neither expressed any objection to the use of this food additive on the meat and poultry meat products as described.

As a result of this process, the regulation to permit the use of the food additive Carnobacterium maltaromaticum CB1 in certain processed meat and poultry meat products came into force on Thursday, November 18, 2010. Specifically, the approval permits the use of this food additive in vacuum-packed wieners, vacuum-packed sliced roast beef, vacuum-packed sliced cooked ham and vacuum-packed sliced cooked turkey, all at a maximum level of use consistent with Good Manufacturing Practice.

These amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations were  published in Part II of the Canada Gazette on December 8, 2010. This food additive and the foods listed above containing the food additive may now be sold in Canada.

For more information on this initiative, please contact the Chemical Health Hazard Assessment Division at bcs-bipc@hc-sc.gc.ca.

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